Matthias f



M.- F. EVANS.

ROLLER SKATE.

(No ModeL') Patent gd Sept. 25, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHIAS F.- EVANS, OF NEVADA, MISSOURI.

ROLLTERFSKATE.

SPEdIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 285,599, dated September 25, 1883.

Application filed June 21, 1883. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHIAs F. Evans, a

. citizen of the United States of America, residing at Nevada, in the county of Vernon and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This'invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in roller or parlor skates, its object being to provide a roller or parlor skate with a brake of such construction that it will come into operation when the toe of the skate is raised, and will not impede its movement when the toe is not raised, the pressure from said brake'being applied gradually to the journals of the heel-rollers, so as to prevent the shock resulting from the application of a perfectly rigid brake.

In the annexed drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the brake detached, and Fig.3 is a transverse section.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents the foot-plate, and B B, respectively, the front and rear or toe andheel rollers, which are secured to the foot-plate in suitable journals. These rollers are provided on their periphery with leather, rubber, or other suitable fleXible material. If desirable, at the toe I may use double rollers or a single roller, said rollers beingsupported upon the same shaft. At the heel I use double rollers 13 B, which are secured rigidly upon a transverse shaft and are separated from each other.

In the foot-plate A, immediately above the journals in which the shaft which carries the rollers rotates, I provide suitable lubricators or perforations, which extend to the upper part of the foot-plate. Immediately above these openings the foot-plate is recessed for the reception of a slide, which has upwardlyeprojecting outer ends and side extensions on its inner end. This recess above the slide is pro vided with a cover with downwardly-projectcurely attached to the foot-plate,'andthe legs m serve to hold the same above the slide, so that said slide maybe moved backwardand forward within the recess.

hen it is desirable to lubricate the journals, th e slide may be pushed outwardly, which will provide a continuous perforation from the foot-plate of the skate to thej ournals, and when said slide is pushed inwardly it will be closed and dirt prevented getting access to saidjournals. The straps at the rear portion of the skate are connected to a bail or other means of attachment, which is pivoted to the sides of the foot-p]ate, so that said straps will lie flatupon the foot of the wearer, and may be adjusted at different angles.

The journals in which the transverse shaft of the rollers operates maybe formed integral with the-foot-plate, or may be attached thereto, as desired, the latter method being the preferred construction when awooden foot-rest is employed.

The shaft to which the rear rollers are attached is enlarged at a point between said rear rollers, so as to provide a larger bearingsurface for the brake.

The brake, which is attached pivotally to the under portion of the foot-plate in front of the rear rollers, consists of a single casting, which is provided at approximately its central portion with an inner curve, 0, and it is curved on its outer end, and provided with a portion which extends sidewise beyond the width of the casting, as shown at c. This brake O is also provided forward of the portion to which it is pivoted to the footplate with a projection, 0*. The brake is pivoted between suitable downwanlly-projecting brackets or hang o ers, which are rigidly attached to the footplate, and through which passes a pintle for the connection of the parts. i

To the under side of the foot-plate A, immediately in front of the brake G, is secured a 5 suitable spring, D, which bears upon the projection 0 formed upon the brake. This spring serves to hold the brake away from the rollershaft, under which the brake passes. The outer curve of the brake, at its central portion, where it bears upon the shaft, is of such size that it will not project beyond the rollers, and

this downward movement of the brake is prevented by the end projection, which will bear against the under parts of the foot-plate.

The operation of my invention, asfar as it relates to the brake, is substantially as follows:

. \Vhen the skate is kept level upon the floor,

i the brake will be inoperative.

Thus a skater may propel himself either forwardly or backwardly, as he may desire, and the brake will not impede his progress, and immediately the toe is raised from the floor the end 0 of the brake C will come in contact therewith, and the curved portion will bear upon the shaft which connects the rollers, thereby stopping their rotating, and this stoppage or rotation is graduated, owing to the curved end, which, 1 from its shape, gradually increases the pressure upon the shaft of the rollers as the toe of the skate is raised.

It will be noticed that in niy invention there are no forward projecting hooks, which are objectionable, owing to their liability to gather and hold any obstructions which may be upon the floor, and the brake, when not in use, is raised considerably above the rollers, and that the forward-projecting portion of the brake will prevent the same from dragging upon the floor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. In a roller or parlor skate, the rear rollers provided with an enlarged central shaft, in combination with a brake pivoted to the footplate forward of the rollers, and extending between the same over a shaft, and provided with a rear upwardly-curved end, for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a roller-skate having rear rollers, B B, secured to each other by a transverse shaft, the brake O, pivoted in front of said rollers, and provided with a cen- MATTHIAS F. EVANS.

Witnesses:

JOHN T. BIRDSEYE, THOMAS XV. MAXEY. 

